Ramadaan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Muslim Ummah follows a complete mental, moral, psychological and spiritual discipline as structured by the Unique Creator of the universe. The Qur’anic term “Sawm” means abstaining from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset.
It is no wonder that the most dominating force in the life of man is hunger, thirst and carnal desires. Struggling in abstinence is therefore not a frivolous act. Still the sacred month of Ramadaan teaches us that it is possible to resist such instinctive pressures provided we have the necessary physical, moral and mental predisposition. Continuous and sustained training during a period of 30 days non-stop brings the fasting person to a heightened status of sublimity.
Those who’ve gone through this devotional act will tell you it’s no joke having to work under the heat of the sun for hours, more often in scorching deserts with throat burning and parching with thirst. They happen to command their thirst, hunger and lust to wait until the Divine Commands arrive, and that is the time of breaking their fast at the sunset.
But fasting in Islam is done according to a set of principles which prompts man to control what is called his “Nafs”, in other words, soul. Controlling the soul against the appetite of the stomach and the gratification of sexual impulse constitute a whole of system of training during Ramadaan.
{According to the Qur’anic terminology Soul has three different levels: “Nafs-ul- Ammarah” (the commanding Soul), “Nafsul-Lawwaamah” (the self-accusing Soul), “Nafs-ul-Mutma-innah” (the Soul at Peace).}
The “commanding Soul” is a term used in the Holy Qur’aan for the lowest stage in the spiritual growth of man; here the carnal desires rule his mind and he is subjected to succumb to his lust which leads him to evils. (Surah 12 v 53)
The “self-accusing Soul” is the second stage in the spiritual development of man. Here the slightest departure from the path of righteousness brings pricks of conscience. (Surah 75 v 2)
The “Soul at Peace” is the spiritual stage where man is rewarded by Allah with an utter peace of mind, soul and spirit in connection with his perfectly guided righteousness. (Surah 89 v 27)
At the first stage he should prevent evils from trespassing his five senses. Nothing should reach his stomach through his mouth and nose. No devilish stuffs should make any impression in his inner faculties through his eyes or through the sense of touch or hearing.
It guide us to see no evils, talk no evils and no formulation of evils in the mind.
The heart of people who observe fast in the strict sense of religious parameters is fully purified. It becomes a Divine treasure where dwells Light. The purity of the heart is similar to a glass free from dust.
The extent of purity determines the brightness of the inner self. Any weakness shrouds the heart in dark clouds of sins depriving it of the illumination from the brightness of Divine and Eternal Light.
Someone rightly said: “Fasting is to refrain from seeing otherness. My breaking the fast is to return to you O Allah”.
He who buries his nose in a bag full of food cannot hope to venture in the invisible world. Even if he keeps his stomach empty he will not be able to remove the veil and visualize the invisible world, unless he clears his mind and heart from everything save his Lord. That’s where he feels himself in the presence of Mighty and Majestic. That’s the real meaning of “Taqwaa”, piety.
Lovers of the material world and worshippers of wealth should not boast by fooling pious people with their cunning method of make-believe policy. Faith swindlers should refrain from playing the dirty game by brandishing their influences with the support of their monetary power to trap weaker folks in their nest.
Likewise people need by all means to prevent others from soiling the holiness of this month and the sacredness of Islam. Offering platforms to political heads for their own selfish motives distorts the whole notion and purpose of fasting. Ramadaan is a month of fast, not feast. Iftar is for believers who have fasted, not for those who show off just for personal or political scores. Expression of the so-called hypocritical religiosity badly damages the social structure and cannot be recalled.
Stop dreaming by exposing your external deceitful appearances that diverts people toward the catastrophic end.
HAFIZ ILMUDDIN KHAYRATTEE